SC Beatrice Schiavona takes command of the army & prepares the storming of Porto Cancere; only 6COY garrison remaining, after multiple threats, they surrender & are incorporated to SC army, left to defend the port under supervision (1btn foot)

Turn16, June 1524

PR 1st army to secure capitol, 2nd army moves to the south against SC

CA still determined to advance on GA, road now clear to the capitol, marches on it? (5): YES

GA army assembled & ready to march on Parmigiano parallel to CA

SC 2nd army embarks for the island fort, 9coy defense (loyalist); 1st army reconnaisance against PR

SC 1st and 2nd armies interlink to strike on GA, food supply provided from ports, re-organization to one large army

~Campaign Notes~

This year felt more intense despite still only a fewer actions being fought.

Sieges 2

Pitched battles 2

of which decisive 2

The old Count Calvacasa had badly thrashed the Prosciutto army twice and seized the capitol in the process. As fortunate as he was on the field, the hinterlands don't look very good, and reinforcements are a big thing for the poor northerners.

I originally intended to have each turn last a week, so the Schiavona army spending two months idle under Porto Cancere is not entirely OK, on the other hand, a general who would have seen the massacre at the storming of Porto Pescatore would have been very, very worried about such actions - unlike the head of the House whose army he had commanded.

IIRC the following years will have more close-fought battles, but one can appreciate that it takes multiple weeks to position an army right for a battle, and it usually still requires the enemy to stand and fight too.

Campaign movement is still quite abstract and I usually use an action-reaction sequence instead of placing armies at a determined point on the map. It's more believable if you think with the opposing general's head: well there is the enemy army SOMEWHERE in this area, or it may be at multiple places; there are contradictory reports coming in from spies and scouts etc., and still the enemy may show up at a completely different place.